Clothes-rack.



. Patented Dec. I9, i899. J. ADAMS. y CLOTHES RACK.

( No Lodel.)

llnrrnn Sterns Parent Ottica..

JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF MANCHESTER, VERMONT.'

CLOTH ES-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,489, dated December 19, 1899. Application filed September l, 1899. Serial No. 729,251. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Man chester Oenter, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Rack, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in clothes-racks.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of racks for supporting clothes and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be strong and durable, easily manufactured, and adapted to be compactly folded when it is not in use.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothes-rack constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, the arms of the drier being folded. Fig. 4 is a detail View ot the head or bracket. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the lower bracket or cup. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the ratchet-strip.

Like numerals of reference designatecorre sponding parts in all the iigures of the draw-A ings.

1 designates a vertical supporting-bar provided at its front face with a vertical plate 2, projecting laterally from opposite sides of the bar and forming flanges which lit in grooves 3 of a pair of vertical parallel bars 4, whereby such bars are slidingly connected with the supporting-bar 1. The vertical sliding hars, which are provided at their inner opposite faces with the said grooves 3, are connected by an upper bracket or head 5 and a lower bracket or cup 6, which may be constructed of any suitable material and may consist of castings or be stamped by suitable dies.

The upper bracket or head, which is substantially semicircular, is arched, as shown, and it is provided with a series of radial slots or openings 7, adapted to receive clothessup porting arms or bars 8, which are adapted to be arranged horizontally, as illustrated in Fig. l of the accompanying drawings, with their lower edges resting upon the rim ot' the upper bracket or head and their upper edges engaging the inner or lower face oi' the inner or upper portion of the head. l/Vhen itis desired to fold the clothes-supporting arms to the position indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, they are arranged in substantially a vertical position, with their lower ends resting in the lower bracket or cup. The upper bracket or head is provided at its inner or rear edge with vertical portions or ears 10, eX- tending above and below the adjacent edges of the said bracket or head and provided with slots or openings 11 l'orA the passage of screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing the parts together. The slotted portions or ears are preferably supported by iilanges 12,V located at the top of the bracket or head. The lower bracket or cup, which is substantially semicylindrical, is provided With vertical portions or ears 13, similar to those of the upper bracket and provided with slots to receive the fastening devices.

The vertically-movable frame formed by the barsand the brackets is secured at any desired adjustment by means of a ratchetstrip 15 and a resilient locking device 16, located at the back of the clothes-rack. The ratchet-strip 15, which is constructed of angle-iron, is L-shaped in cross-section, one of the flanges being perforated and forming an attachment-plate 17 and the other iiange being provided at intervals with teeth 18, located at one side of the supporting-bar l.

The resilient locking device, which engages the ratchet-strip, is mounted on the supporting-bar and is provided with a transverse pintle portion 19, mounted in bearings of a cap-plate 20. The cap-plate 20, which is secured to the rear face of the bar l, is provided at opposite sides of the same with flanges 2l, having-recesses to provide bearings for the pintle portion of the resilient locking device. The locking device is provided at one side of the supporting-bar 1 with a spring-coil 23, and it has an extension or arm 24 projecting from the outer end of the coil and secured to the bar 1 by a staple 25 or other suitable fastening device. At the other side of the supporting-bar l the locking device is angularly bent to form inner and outer longitudinal.

loo

portions 26 and 27 and a transverse engaging portion 28, which connects the adjacent cnds of the portions 26 and 27. The engaging portion 28,Which interlocks with the teeth of the ratchet-strip, is offset from the pintle portion by the inner longitudinal portion 26, and the outer longitudinal portion forms a convenient handle, whereby the device is operated.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and

the minor details of construction Within the secured to the supporting-bar, said locking device being provided at the other side of the bar With an angular portion engaging the ratchet-strip, and terminating in an operating-handle, substantially as described.

2. A clothes-rack comprising a supportingbar, sliding bars mounted on the said bar and provided with clothes-supporting devices, a ratchet-strip mounted on one of the sliding bars, a bearing-plate secured to the supporting-bar, and a resilient locking device having a pint-le portion arranged in the bearingplate, said locking device being provided at one end of the pintle portion with a springcoil and having an angularly-bent portion arranged adjacent to the ratchet-bar, engaging the same and providing a handle, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto afxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Q. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

W. H. ROBERTS, J. H. HICKS. 

